Theory of Character Review of Related Theories
According to Barnet, Berman and Burto in their book Literature for Composition there are some important factors that must be considered when we want
to see the character involved in a story. Those are: 1988: 2 1. What the character says
What the character says can give a clue how the author describes him, for example whether he is a kind or bad person, educated or uneducated person.
2. What the character does We are to know whether he is from upper or lower class, and he is a kind bad
person from what the character does. 3. What other characters say about the character
It is needed to get additional information and clear description about some characters that will be described in the story.
4. What others do The action of others may help indicate what the character could do but he
does not do. It is very important to know his characteristics such as lazy, or careless.
I also used M.J. Murphy, Understanding Unseen: An Introduction to English Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Students. Murphy mentions nine ways in
which an author attempts to make his characters understandable and come alive for his readers. The following ways are as follows: 1977: 23
1. Personal description
Personal description means that the author can describe a person’s appearance and clothes in the story.
2. Character as seen by another
Instead of describing a character directly the author can describe him through the eyes and opinion of other characters.
3. Speech
It is an important way that may be used to describe a character. The author can give us an insight into the character of one person in the book through what the
person says. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he is in conversation with another, whenever he puts forward an opinion, he gives us some clues to his character.
4. Past Life
By letting the readers learn something about a person’s past life, the author can give them a clue to an event that has helped to shape a person’s character. This
can be done by direct comments by the author, through the person’s thought, through his conversation, or through the medium of another person.
5. Conversation of Others
We can take clues of a person’s characteristics through the conversation of other people and the thing they say about him. People do talk about other people and
the things they say often give us a clue to the character of the person spoken about. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
6. Reactions
Through the person’s reaction to various situation and event, the author can also give us a clue to know the person’s characteristics.
7. Direct Comment
The author can describe or comment on the person’s characteristic directly. 8.
Thoughts The author can give us direct knowledge of what person is thinking about. In
this respect, he is able to do what we cannot do in real life. He can tell us what different people are thinking.
9. Mannerism
The author can describe a person’s mannerism and habits, which may also tell
us something about his character.